Door check



April 18,1939. E. B. G. LEFEVRE DOOR CHECK Filed Sept. 15, 1937 m T. N NR Z m 1 0 a W Patented Apr. 18, 1939 DOOR CHECK Emil B. G. Lefevre,Detroit, Mich, assignor to National Stamping Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application September 15, 1937, Serial No.164,019

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to motion limiting checks or stops, forcontrolling the swinging movement of a door relative to a door post orlike members, and in particular provides improved devices of thischaracter adapted to function both as checks or stops and as holdingdevices.

Objects of the present invention are to provide improved devices of theabove indicated character adapted to function both as checks or stopsand as holding devices; to provide such devices which may be used ineither exposed or concealed relation and with doors and door posts orlike members of either metallic or other constructions; to provide suchdevices which resiliently cushion the final movements of the associatedmembers, and resiliently retain the members in such final position or inintermediate positions; to provide such devices which may be readily andeconomically manufactured and installed and which are durable andefficient in operation.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide a device of theabove generally indicated character embodying a check member connectedbetween a door and a door post or like members and adapted to permitrelative movement therebetween, and also embodying a cushioning membercooperating with said check member to cushion such relative movement; toprovide such a device in which the cushioning member and the checkmember are constructed and arranged to cushion the final openingmovements of the door or like member and to hold the door or like memberin its fully open or other position; to' provide such a device in whichthe cushioning member includes means to yieldingly grip the checkmember, and the check member includes one or more cam enlargements whichcooperate with the cushioning member to reduce the speed of movement ofthe door or like member; to providesuch a construction in which thecushioning member comprises a reinforced resilient member having adeflectable portion disposed in the path of the check member; and to :15provide such a construction in which the cushioning member includes aunitary resilient member having anopening. therethrough toaccommodatethe check member and having reinforced deflectable portions projectingin the opening for engagement by the checkmember.

With the above and other objects in view, which appear in the followingdescription and in the appended claims, preferred but illustrativeembodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing, throughout which corresponding reference characters are used todesignate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in horizontal section of a door check embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken along 5 the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, with certain of the parts shown insection, taken along the line 3'3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken along the 10 line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 55 of Fig.2;' and r Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modified construction ofarm or link. 15

It will be appreciated, from a complete understanding of the invention,that it may be applied to a wide variety of uses, and may be embodied inwidely differing forms. Accordingly, although the specific embodimentsillustrated are particularly adapted for use as checking or holdingdevices for vehicle doors, it will be appreciated that the terms doorand door post, as used throughout the following description, are, in abroad sense, merely illustrative of two relatively movable members withwhich the invention may be associated. For simplicity, also, the deviceis hereinafter referred to as a door check, but it will be appreciatedthat such term is used in a generic sense. 30

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 particularly to Fig. 1, thedoor check comprises generally a link 2|] and a cushioning member 22,shown as arranged in concealed relation relative to a door 24 and a doorpost 26. As will be appreciated, the members 24a, 24b, and 240,represent, respectively the outer face, the inner face, and the rail ofthe door. Similarly, the members 26a, 26b, and 260, represent,respectively, the outer face, the inner face, and the abutting edge ofthe door post. The door 24 is hinged to the post 26 by a conventionalhinge 28, one leaf 28d of which is secured in any conventional way tothe abutting edge 260 of the door post, and. the other leaf 28b of whichis secured in a corresponding manner to the abutting edge 24b of thedoor.

The link 20 embodies the construction disclosed and claimed in Mooreapplication, Serial No. 143,097, filed May 17, 1937. As shown, the link20 is formed of a single strip of material, preferably metal, suitablybent or folded upon itself to define the substantially linear abuttingleg sections 20a, and the pairs of symmetrically arranged cam surfaces20?), 20c, and. 20d. Pref- 56 erably and as illustrated, the surfaces mand 28c are of rather sharply inclined character and define between thema cam enlargement which cooperates, as hereinafter described, with thecushioning. member 22 to initially retard the flnal. opening movement ofthe door 24. The surfaces top as appears clearly in Fig. 4, to minimizethe wear thereof on the member 22, as described below. In order toreinforce it, the end of the link is provided with astiflening rib 28c.In addition the member 28 is angled in the general plane of the widthdimension of the legs 20a, as clearly appears in Fig. 1. It will beappreciated that this bending, as well as the folding of the member 28to introduce the above described formation may be effected by suitablestamping and die forming operations.

The inner ends of the legs 28a. pass through an opening 28 providedtherefor in the rail 24c,

and are received betweenthe legs 30 of a bracket 82, the base 84 ofwhich is suitably securedto the inner face of the abutting \edge'26c'ofthe door post 28. The edge 260 is suitably apertured as at 88 toaccommodate the legs 80. A rivet 38, or other suitable element such as ascrew or stud, is passed through the legs 30 and through the member 20in order to form a pivotal connection between these elements. In orderto avoid rattling, a relatively snug fit between the legs 38, the pin88, and the member 20, is preferable.

The cushioning member 22 is illustrated as comprising a unitary block ofresilient material such as rubber or the like, suitably secured as by aplurality of rivets 40 to a backing member 42. The backing member 42 inturn is suitably secured as by welding at the points 44 to the rail 24c,and supports the cushioning member 22 in such a position that when thedoor is in its substantially or completely open position, the cushioning member lies in a plane substantially parallelto the plane of thesurface 20b, 20c, and 20d. In this way a full or face-*o-face engagementis afforded between the cushioning member and the cooperating surfaceson the arm 20.

As most clearly appears in Fig. 3, the cushioning member 22 is providedwith a central generally rectangular opening therethrough. the lateralsides of which are defined by the edges 48, and the upper and loweredges of which are extended'inwardly to define deflectable tongues 48.

Reinforcing elements 58, preferably formed of spring steel or the like,are embedded in the cushioning member 22. The outer end of eachreinforcing element 50 is apertured to receive a cor- .responding rivet48 so as to reinforce the connections between the element 22 and member42. The inner end of 'each reinforcing strip 50 is preferably rounded toform an eye 52. ner ends of the defiectable tongues 48 arecorrespondingly rounded as indicated at 54. It will be noted that themarginal edges of the opening I. in the supporting member 42 are spacedoutwardly from the ends of the spring-elements 52 and the rounded ends54 of the resilient bodies.

The deflectable portion of each tongue 48 may. of course, be consideredto be that portion thereof which projects inwardly from the marginaledge of the opening 56, and it will be noted that each such deflectat leportion includes a reinforced part and an ui-reinforced part.

Considering the operation as a whole of the The indevice, it will beappreciated that the parts are shown in the various figures in theclosed position of-the door.

relative to the cushioning member 22, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. As thefully open position of the door is approached, the cam surfaces 20b arebrought into engagement-with the rounded ends 54 of the tongues 48.Continued, such door opening movement causes the cam surfaces 28b todeflect the rounded ends 54 and ultimately to pass between them. Thejust mentioned deflection is, of course, resisted by the tongues 48, andtends to reduce the speed of movement of the door. The thickness of thecam enlargement defined by the surfaces 20b and 280 is preferably lessthan the spacing between the inner ends 52 of the reinforcing elements58 so that substantially all of the above mentioned deflection occursbetween the ends 52- and'the rounded portions 84.

As soon as the cam enlargement defined by the surfaces 28b and 200passes beyond the tongues 48, the latter are rendered effective torestore themselves to the positions shown in Fig. 2, in

which. they lie between the surfaces 2% and, 28d..

A continued door opening movement brings the surfaces 20d intoengagement with the tongues 48. The width of the surfaces 20d ispreferably less than the width of the opening 58 in the supportingbracket 42, but is greater'than the spacing between the inner ends 52 ofthe reinforcing .elements 58. The reinforcing elements 50 are renderedeffective to resist any deflection of the tongues 48 caused by theengagement thereof by the surfaces 20d. The speed of the door openingmovement, of course, determines the degree to which the surfaces 20ddeflect the tongues, 48. The parts are preferably so proportioned that amaximum expected rate of door opening movement will cause a. rathersubstantial deflection of the tongues 48, insuflicient, however, topermit the surfaces 20d to pass entirely between and through thecushioning member 22. The tongues 48, thus yield somewhat in bringingthe door to rest, and thereafter restore themselves to the position asshown in Fig. 2 and also restore the door to its normal fully openedposition.

A door opening movement beyond its normal fully opened position isprevented by the above described substantial resisting force of thereinforced tongues 48. A door closing movement is yieldingly resisted,but to a substantially lesser The many advantages resulting from thetrans- I versely rounded surfaces of the cam faces 28b and 200 arebelieved to be apparent from the foregoing description of operation. Itis particularly noted, however, that these transversely'rounded surfacesgive the cam enlargement a bead-like form. This bead-like form iseffective to cause the necessary deflection of the tongues 48 withoutcausing any cutting or undue wear thereof, since the deflected area ofthe tongues increases gradually in depth, rather than abruptly.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the arm 88which may cor:- respond, except in the respects hereinafter noticed, tothe previously described arm 20, is provided with a plurality of camenlargements 88a, 88b, 88c, and 80d spaced therealong and ofprogressively increasing size. This arrangement During the course of adoor opening movement, the arm 28 moves to the left provides aprogressive retarding force to slow the final opening movement of thedoor, and also provides for retaining the door in any of a plurality ofpartially opened positions.

Although only two specific embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail, it will be appreciated that various modificationsin the form, number and arrangement of parts may be made within thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described for connection between a doormember and a post member or the like, means connected to one of saidmembers and having a projection thereon, and a cushioning memberconnected to the other of said members and having a resilientdeflectable element disposed in the path of said projction, said elementbeing deflectable by said projection in the direction of movement ofsaid enlargement.

2. In a device of the class described for connection between a doormember and a post member or the like, the combination of anarm carriedby one of said members and having a cam-like lateral projection formedthereon, and acushioning member secured to the other'of said members andhaving a resilient deflectable tongue positioned in the path of movementof said projection, for deflection by said projection in the directionof movement of said projection.

3. In a device of the class described for connection between a doormember and a post member or the like, the combination of an armconnected to one of said members having a cam enlargement formedthereon, and a resilient cushioning member connected to the other ofsaid members having a resilient tongue deflectable in the direction ofmovement of said enlargement.

4. In a device of the class described for connection between a doormember and a post member or the like, the combination of an armpivotally connected to one of said members and having cam enlargementsformed on the laterally opposite sides thereof, and a cushioning memberconnected to the other of said members, said cushioning member -having apair of opposed defiectable resilient tongues lying in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said arm anddisposed to be deflected by said enlargement, said enlargement beingrounded in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tongues.

5. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member adapted forconnection to a door or a door post or the like,comprising a bodyhavinga resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and a reinforcingelement associated with said tongue.

6. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member comprising abody having a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and areinforcing element embedded in said body and extending into saidtongue.

7. In a device of the class described, a cushioning member comprising abody having a resiliently deflectable tongue projecting therefrom, and areinforcing element embedded in said body and projecting into saidtongue, a portion of said tongue extending beyond the end of saidreinforcing element.

8. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning membercomprising a body member having an opening extending therethrough, aportion of the wall of said opening being provided with a resilientlydeflectable tongue projecting into said opening.

9. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning membercomprising a body member having an opening extending therethrough,.the

. respectively opposite lateral sides of said opening silient material,a backing member for said body, said backing member having an openingtherethrough, and said resilient member having an opening therethroughsubstantially concentric with but smaller than said backing memberopening, aportion of said resilient member projecting inwardly of saidopening constituting a resiliently deflectable tongue.

12. In a device of the class described, a resilient cushioning membercomprising a body ofresilient material, a backing member for said body,said backing member having an opemng therethrough, and said resilientmember having an opening therethrough substantially concentric with butsmaller than said backing member opening, a portion of said resilientmember projecting inwardly of said opening constituting a resilientlydeflectable tongue, and a reinforcing element embodied in said resilientbody and extending into said tongue.

13. In a device of the class described, an arm characterized as beingformed of a unitary strip of metal folded into U-shape with the legs inabutting relation, with the base of the U outwardly flanged to form alimit stop surface, and with portions of each leg adjacent said basebeing formed to provide a cam enlargement said cam enlargement havingthe surface thereof arcuately shaped in a plane substantially normal tothe length of said legs.

14. In a. device of the class described, an arm characterized as beingformed of a unitary strip of metal folded into U-shapewith the legs inabutting relation, with the base of the U outwardly flanged to form alimit stop surface, and with portions of each leg adjacent said basebeing formed to provide a cam enlargement, said cam enlargement havingthe surface thereof arcuately shaped in a plane substantially normal tothe length of said legs, and said base having a stiffening rib extendingtransversely thereacross.

15. In a device of the class described, for connection between a doormember and a post mem ber or the like, the combination of an armconnected to one of said members and extending into the other of saidmembers, and a resilient cushioning member connected to the other ofsaid; members and having an opening therethrough through which said armprojects, respectively opposite sides of said opening being providedwith inwardly extending resiliently deflectable tongues normallydisposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of relativemovement between said cushioning member and arm, and said arm having oneor more cam enlargements thereon adapted to engage and deflect saidtongues, each of said enlargements having a surface which is rounded ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tongues.

characterized 'as being formed of a strip of metal having an enlargementat one end thereof, and

having a cam-like enlargement intermediate the endsthereoi, saidcam-like enlargement having the surface thereof arcuately shaped in aplane substantially normal to the length 01 said arm.

17. In a device of the'class described for connection between a doormember and a post member or the like, the combination of an armconnected to one of said members and having a laterally extending camenlargement formed on one side thereof, and a cushioning memberconnected to the other of said members, said cushioning member having aresiliently deflectable tongue lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of movement oi. the arm relative to thecushioning member and disposed to be deflected by said enlargement inthe direction of said movement, said enlargement being rounded in aplane substantially parallel to the planeoi said tongue.

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